Unsaturated fatty alcohols and method of preparing them

ABSTRACT

New unsaturated fatty alcohols of the formula: ##STR1## in which n=2 or 4 are provided and are prepared by the novel process of reacting butadiene with water in the presence of a palladium salt and orthoboric acid, B(OH) 3 , in a polar aprotic solvent.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 185,593, filed Sept. 9, 1980 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,399.

The present invention relates to new unsaturated fatty alcohols and to a novel process for preparing them.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel unsaturated fatty alcohols.

It is a further object to provide a novel process of preparing the novel unsaturated fatty alcohols of the invention.

Further objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the present description.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compounds of the invention have the general formula (A) shown below: ##STR2## in which n is equal to 2 or 4.

The invention therefore concerns more particularly the novel compounds: hexadeca-1,6,10,15-tetraen-3-ol (n=2) and tetracosa-1,6,10,14,18,23-hexaen-3-ol (n=4).

The invention also has as its object a process of preparing compounds of formula (A) comprising reacting butadiene with water in the presence of a palladium salt and orthoboric acid, B(OH)₃, in a polar aprotic solvent.

In accordance with one particular embodiment of the process of the invention, a carboxylic acid is present in the polar aprotic solvent simultaneously with the palladium salt and the orthoboric acid.

It should be emphasized that, within the present invention, the addition of and presence of carboxylic acid is not necessary. However, it makes it possible to increase the stability of the catalytic system formed from the palladium salt. It also makes it possible to increase the selectivity for the alcohol of the formula (A) in which n=2.

The palladium salt is selected preferably from the group comprising palladium carboxylates of the formula (B): (R₁ COO)₂ Pd, the allyl complexes of palladium having a carboxylate radical of the formula (C): (R₂ PdR₁ COO)₂, and the allyl complexes of palladium having the formula (D); R₂ PdOR₁ in which:

R₁ represents a radical selected from the group comprising alkyl radicals having from about 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as the methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and n-butyl radicals and aryl radicals, such as the phenyl, tolyl, benzyl and naphthyl radicals, these radicals being optionally substituted.

R₂ represents a radical of the formula: ##STR3## in which R₃ represents a hydrogen atom or the radical R₁.

As examples of palladium carboxylates of formula (B) which can be used in the process of the invention, mention may be made of palladium acetate and palladium benzoate.

As examples of allyl complexes of palladium of formula (C) which can be used in the process of the invention, mention may be made of the compounds of the following structures: ##STR4##

As example of complex of formula (D) one may mention the compound of the formula: ##STR5##

The solvent is selected preferably from the group of aprotic solvents comprising dimethylformamide, hexamethylphosforus triamide, dimethylacetamide and N-methylpyrrolidone.

The carboxylic acid optionally used in the process of the present invention has the general formula R₄ COOH, in which R₄ represents a radical selected from among the group comprising the alkyl and aryl radicals, optionally substituted.

In accordance with one particular embodiment of the process of the invention, there is employed a carboxylic acid of the formula R₄ COOH, in which R₄ represents an acrylic or cyclic alkyl radical having from about 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Mention may be made in particular of the acids of the following formulae: ##STR6##

In accordance with another specific embodiment of the process there may be employed a carboxylic acid of the formula R₄ COOH in which R₄ represents a radical having a formula selected from the group comprising of: ##STR7## in which R₅ represents a radical selected from the group comprising hydrogen, OH, and the alkyl raicals having from about 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

Mention may be made in particular of the acids of the following structural formulae: ##STR8##

In the process of the invention a temperature between about -5° C. and about +150° C. is generally employed. The temperature is preferably selected from between about 10° C. and 35° C. when operating without the addition of a carboxylic acid. When operating in the presence of the latter, the temperature is preferably between about 50° C. and 100° C.

The use of a carboxylic acid, which increases the stability of the catalyst system, makes it possible to carry out the reaction at a higher temperature. This results in an increase in the reaction velocity and, therefore, an increase in the yield of the desired alcohol.

The molar ratio of butadiene to water employed in the process is preferably between about 0.1 and 10:1. More particularly, it is preferred to use the butadiene and the water in a molar ratio close to about 1:1. The ratio of the number of mols of butadiene to the number of gram-atoms of palladium is generally between about 100 and about 1000 to 1. A value of close to 300:1 is preferred. Values less than or greater than this range are not excluded since they do not affect the selectivity, but only the reaction velocity. In order to obtain the best selectivity, one preferably operates with a molar ratio of water to boric acid, B(OH)₃, of between about 0.1 and about 20:1. Even more preferably, there is used a molar ratio of H₂ O to B(OH)₃ of between about 2 and about 10:1.

The ratio of the number of mols of carboxylic acid to the number of gram-atoms of palladium is preferably between about 0.5 and about 20:1. Even more preferably it is between about 2 and about 6:1.

It is preferred to carry out the process of the invention in a homogeneous medium. The boric acid will therefore be used in an amount which does not exceed the limit of solubility (250 g/l of solvent approximately at room temperature). The amounts of boric acid are therefore determined by the amounts of solvent. The latter must be sufficient for the butadiene to be soluble in the water-solvent mixture.

The process of the invention is desirably conducted at autogenous pressure, although pressures greater or less than autogenous pressure are not excluded from the invention.

The reaction time, when operating within the above-indicated preferred temperature ranges, is preferably between about 1 and 30 hours. Beyond 30 hours, the formation of heavy compounds increases.

In order to decrease the formation of heavy compounds (oligomers of butadiene, non-functional polymers and polymers having alcohol functions) one may add a phosphine, such as triphenylphosphine, P(φ)₃, to the reaction system. A phosphine is preferably used in an amount such that the atomic ratio: P3+/Pd--is between about 0.1 and about 0.5:1. This ratio is preferably close to about 0.25:1.

The process of the invention can be carried out continuously or batchwise. The products obtained having the formula (A) can be hydrogenated to form saturated linear alcohols of the following formula: ##STR9## where n=2 or 4 as in formula (A) above. This can be done by hydrogenation at a pressure of 50 bars of hydrogen employing pentane as the solvent at a temperature of about 20° C., employing a catalyst of palladium or platinum deposited on carbon black support in the amount of 10% of palladium or platinum. Alternatively, said products may be isomerized and hydrogenated to form saturated linear alcohols of the formula: ##STR10## where n has the meaning. This can be done by isomerizing the product of formula (A) in dioxane as a solvent at a temperature of about 100° C. over a catalyst of palladium, acetylacetonate and triphenylphosphine and then hydrogenated as above to produce saturated linear alcohols of the above formula.

These saturated linear alcohols are precursors of biodegradable detergents, which can be prepared by reaction of the alcohol with ethylene oxide at a temperature of about 140° C. to provide a non-ionic detergent. Those saturated alcohols having a formula RCH₂ OH can also be converted to ionic detergents by reaction with sulfuric chlorohydride (HCl-SO₃) to produce compounds of the formula RCH₂ --O--SO₃ H which can be neutralized with a base, such as ammonia, to produce an ionic detergent of the formula RCH₂ --O--SO₃ NH₄.

The compounds of formula (A) can also be isomerized to form ketones of the following formula: ##STR11## or isomerized and hydrogenated to form ketones of the following formula: ##STR12## In both of these formulae, n=2 or 4. This can be done by isomerizing the compound of formula (A) at a temperature of about 110° C. over a catalyst of palladium or platinum on a carbon black support or a catalyst of hydridochlorotris (triphenylphosphine) ruthenium. Similarly, the products of formula (A) can be subjected to this same isomerization as just described and then hydrogenated as described above for the production of saturated linear alcohols.

The process of the invention is preferably, but not necessarily, carried out in an oxygen-free atmosphere.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to disclose more clearly the nature of the present invention, the following examples illustrating the invention are given. It should be understood, however, that this is done solely by way of example and is intended neither to delineate the scope of the invention nor limit the ambit of the appended claims. In the examples which follow, and throughout the specification, the quantities of material are expressed in terms of parts by weight, unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLES 1 TO 8

80 mg. of palladium acetate (0.35 mg. atom of Pd) and 1 g. (16 millimols) of boric acid were introduced into a thick-walled glass tube and agitated by a Teflon-coated bar, driven by a magnetic agitator. The tube was purged three times by a vacuum-argon system and thereupon 10 g. of dimethylformamide, the amount of water indicated in Table I, below, and 4.5 g. of butadiene (92 millimols) were added one after the other.

Agitation of the contents was effected for 24 hours at 20° C. Analysis by gaseous-phase chromatography showed that the following four products (I to IV) were obtained: ##STR13## (III) oligomerization products of butadiene; and (IV) polymerization products of butadiene having more than 24 carbon atoms.

These compounds can be separated from each other by any technique well known to the man skilled in the art, such as, for instance, distillation under reduced pressure.

The results obtained are given in Table I, below.

In a number of the examples which follow and in a number of the tables which follow, the products obtained will be referred to by Nos. I, II, III and IV, which will be employed to indicate the products as identified by the same numbers above.

EXAMPLES 9 TO 14

The same procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but varying amounts of boric acid and water as indicated in Table II, below, were employed. The results obtained are indicated in Table II, below.

EXAMPLES 15 TO 18

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but increasing the amount of solvent (dimethylformamide) from 10 to 15 g. and using either 1 g. or 2 g. of boric acid with variable amounts of water as indicated in Table III, below. The results obtained are given in said Table III, below.

EXAMPLES 19 TO 22

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but with a molar ratio of H₂ O to B(OH)₃ of 4 and using the different catalysts indicated in Table IV, below, which table also sets forth the results obtained.

EXAMPLE 23

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but employing a molar ratio of H₂ O to B(OH)₃ of 4 and adding 29.6 mg. of triphenylphosphine of the formula: ##STR14## (0.113 miligram atom of P³⁺).

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 27.4%. There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               0.560 g.                                                       II              0.095 g.                                                       III             0.142 g.                                                       IV              0.323 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 24

The procedure of Example 23 was repeated, but adding, instead of triphenylphosphine, 57.8 g. of metasulfonated triphenylphosphine of the formula: ##STR15## (0.094 milligram atom of P³⁺).

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 34.2%

There was obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               0.629 g.                                                       II              0.149 g.                                                       III             0.161 g.                                                       IV              0.400 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES 25-27

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but with a ratio of H₂ O to B(OH)₃ of 4, but varying the nature of the solvent (in each case 10 g. of solvent was used). The solvents employed and results obtained are set forth in Table V, below.

EXAMPLES 28 TO 34

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but with a molar ratio of H₂ O to B(OH)₃ of 4, and also varying the amount of palladium acetate. The results are set forth in Table VI, below.

EXAMPLES 35 TO 37

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but with a molar ratio of H₂ O to B(OH)₃ of 4, and also varying the temperatures. The results are set forth in Table VII, below.

EXAMPLES 38 TO 40

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but with a molar ratio of H₂ O to B(OH)₃ of 4, and also varying the butadiene concentrations. The results are set forth in Table VIII, below.

EXAMPLES 41 TO 50

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but using a molar ratio of H₂ O to B(OH)₃ of 2 (Table IX, below, for Examples 41 to 45) or else 4 (Table X, below, for Examples 46 to 50) and varying the reaction times. The results are shown in Tables IX and X, below.

EXAMPLE 51

1.20 g. (5.34 milligram atoms of Pd) of palladium acetate and 15 g. (242 millimols) of orthoboric acid were introduced into an 0.5 liter stainless steel autoclave. It was purged three times by a vacuum-argon system and 164 g. of dimethylformamide, 17.64 g. of water (0.98 mol) and 62 g. of butadiene (1.15 mol) were then added one after the other. Agitation was effected at 20° C. for 24 hours. The conversion rate of the butadiene was 41%. After addition of water and neutralization of the boric acid by sodium bicarbonate, 27 g. of organic phase were obtained, analysis of which by gasous-phase chromatography shows that it contains:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.          Amount                                                   ______________________________________                                         I                     10.08  g.                                                II                    3      g.                                                III                   1.31   g.                                                IV                    11.29  g.                                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES 52 TO 58

80 mg. of palladium acetate (0.35 milligram atom of Pd), 1 g. (16 millimols) of orthoboric acid and an amount of carboxylic acid, such that the atomic ratio H+/Pd was equal to 2, were added to a thick-walled glass tube which was stirred by a Telfon-coated bar driven by a magnetic agitator. The tube was purged three times by a vacuum-argon system and thereupon there were introduced, in succession, 10 g. of dimethylformaide, 1.2 g. of water (molar ratio H₂ O/B(OH)₃ =4) and 4.5 g. of butadiene (92 millimols).

Agitation was effected for 24 hours at 25° C.

The results obtained are indicated in Tables XI and XIA, below.

EXAMPLE 59

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but employing:

Pd (φCOO)₂ =0.136 g. (0.36 milligram atom of Pd)

B(OH)₃ =1 g.

dimethylformamide=9.3 g.

H₂ O=1.18 g.

butadiene=4.6 g.

Heating was effecterd at 50° C. for 2 hours.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 37.7%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               0.807 g.                                                       II              0.267 g.                                                       III             0.139 g.                                                       IV              0.501 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 60

The procedure of Example 59 was repeated, but with heating at 50° C. for 16 hours.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 63.5%. There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               1.140 g.                                                       II              0.333 g.                                                       III             0.239 g.                                                       IV              0.866 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 61

The procedure of Example 60 was repeated, but using 1.79 g. of H₂ O.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 54.8%. There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               1.325 g.                                                       II              0.296 g.                                                       III             0.240 g.                                                       IV              0.305 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 62

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but employing:

Pd(AcO)₂ =81.6 mg. (0.36 milligram atom of Pd)

benzoic acid=88 mg. (0.72 millimol)

B(OH)₃ =1 g.

dimethylformamide=9.6 g.

H₂ O=1.23 g.

butadiene=4.7 g.

Heating was effected at 50° C. for 2 hours.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 34%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               0.815 g.                                                       II              0.206 g.                                                       III             0.186 g.                                                       IV              0.335 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 63

The procedure of Example 62 was repeated, but using 1.78 g. of H₂ O.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 21.3%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               0.506 g.                                                       II              0.111 g.                                                       III             0.162 g.                                                       IV              0.149 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 64

Into a 125 ml. stainless steel autoclave there were introduced:

Pd(AcO)₂ =0.238 g. (1.06 milligram atom of Pd)

benzoic acid=0.263 g. (2.15 millimols)

B(OH)₃ =3 g.

dimethylformamide=28.5 g.

H₂ O=3.6 g.

butadiene=16 g.

Heating was effected with agitation at 65° C. for 1 hour.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 30.4%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               2.292 g.                                                       II              0.693 g.                                                       III             0.714 g.                                                       IV              0.918 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 65

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but using:

Pd(AcO)₂ =0.080 g. (0.35 milligram atom of Pd)

benzoic acid=0.187 g. (1.53 millimols)

B(OH)₃ =1 g.

dimethylformamide=9.7 g.

H₂ O=1.20 g.

butadiene=4.6 g.

Heating was effected at 50° C. for 4 hours.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 25.8%

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               0.702 g.                                                       II              0.118 g.                                                       III             0.159 g.                                                       IV              0.156 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 66

The procedure of Example 65 was repeated, but heating at 50° C. for 16 hours.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 55.6%. There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               1.333 g.                                                       II              0.167 g.                                                       III             0.286 g.                                                       IV              0.393 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 67

The procedure of Example 66 was repeated, but using 1.8 g. of H₂ O.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 35%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.          Amount                                                   ______________________________________                                         I                     0.921  g.                                                II                    0.08   g.                                                III                   0.161  g.                                                IV                    0.0    g.                                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 68

The procedure of Example 67 was repeated, but heating at 65° C. for 2 hours.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 29.1%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               0.757 g.                                                       II              0.110 g.                                                       III             0.193 g.                                                       IV              0.035 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 69

The procedure of Example 64 was repeated, but using:

Pd(AcO)₂ =0.162 g. (0.724 milligram atom of Pd)

benzoic acid=0.361 g. (2.96 millimols)

B(OH)₃ =2 g.

dimethylformamide=19 g.

H₂ O=3.6 g.

butadiene=10 g.

Heating was effected at 80° C. for 1 hour.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 31.4%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.          Amount                                                   ______________________________________                                         I                     1.59   g.                                                II                    0.254  g.                                                III                   0.572  g.                                                IV                    0.230  g.                                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 70

The procedure of Example 69 was repeated, but using 0.110 g. of palladium acetate (0.49 milligram atom of Pd) and 0.243 g. of benzoic acid (2 millimols).

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 27.1%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               1.196 g.                                                       II              0.190 g.                                                       III             0.335 g.                                                       IV              0.097 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 71

The procedure of Example 64 was repeated, but using:

Pd(AcO)₂ =0.166 g. (0.74 milligram atom of Pd)

benzoic acid=0.361 g. (2.96 millimols) B(OH)₃ =4 g.

dimethylformamide=28.5 g.

H₂ O=7 g.

butadiene=11 g.

Heating was effected with agitation at 95° C. for 30 minutes.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 44.1%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.    Amount                                                         ______________________________________                                         I               1.807 g.                                                       II              0.413 g.                                                       III             1.179 g.                                                       IV              0.413 g.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 72

The procedure of Example 71 was repeated, but using 0.152 g. of palladium acetate (0.68 milligram atom of Pd), 0.334 g. of benzoic acid (2.73 millimols) and 14 g. of butadiene.

Heating was effected at 80° C. for 1 hour.

The conversion rate of the butadiene was 29.1%.

There were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No.          Amount                                                   ______________________________________                                         I                     2.06   g.                                                II                    0.242  g.                                                III                   0.643  g.                                                IV                    0.428  g.                                                ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Amount           Conversion                                                    of water  Molar ratio                                                                           rate of Products obtained (g)                                 Examples                                                                            (g)  H.sub.2 O/B(OH).sub.3                                                                 butadiene (%)                                                                          I   II  III IV                                        __________________________________________________________________________     1    0    0      3.5     0   0   0.1 0                                         2    0.14 0.48   11.5    0.230                                                                              0.058                                                                              0.079                                                                              0.112                                     3    0.29 1      30.3    0.481                                                                              0.2 0.095                                                                              0.605                                     4    0.62 2.1    34.9    0.413                                                                              0.22                                                                               0.113                                                                              0.875                                     5    1.09 3.65   34      0.572                                                                              0.22                                                                               0.084                                                                              0.668                                     6    1.2  4.2    31.9    0.514                                                                              0.157                                                                              0.081                                                                              0.64                                      7    1.85 6.5    28.7    0.573                                                                              0.133                                                                              0.130                                                                              0.49                                      8    2.8  9.45   21      0.397                                                                              0.13                                                                               0.119                                                                              0.24                                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________                Amount      Conversion                                              Amount of  of water                                                                            Molar ratio                                                                           rate of Products obtained (g)                           Examples                                                                            B(OH).sub.3 (g)                                                                      (g)  H.sub.2 O/B(OH).sub.3                                                                 butadiene (%)                                                                          I   II  III                                                                               IV                                   __________________________________________________________________________      9   0     0    0      0       0   0   0  0                                    10   0.5   0.3  2.04   32      0.192                                                                              0.150                                                                              0.10                                                                              1                                    11   1.01  0.55 1.86   46.7    0.832                                                                              0.268                                                                              0.10                                                                              1.05                                 12   2.01  1.34 2.28   23      0.695                                                                              0.160                                                                              0.02                                                                              0.30                                 13   2.09  2.36 3.9    15.4    0.36                                                                               0.091                                                                              0.12                                                                              0.246                                14   1.96  3.43 6      15.9    0.358                                                                              0.018                                                                              0.08                                                                              0.17                                 __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE III                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Amount of  Amount of    Conversion                                             B(OH).sub.3                                                                               H.sub.2 O                                                                            Molar ratio                                                                           rate of Products obtained (g)                          Examples                                                                            (g)   (g)   H.sub.2 O/B(OH).sub.3                                                                 butadiene (%)                                                                          I  II III                                                                               IV                                    __________________________________________________________________________     15   1     1.1   3.7    25      0.197                                                                             0.06                                                                              0.026                                                                             0.757                                 16   1     1.67  5.5    35.7    0.612                                                                             0.164                                                                             0.056                                                                             0.680                                 17   2     2.49  4.2    21.8    0.533                                                                             0.136                                                                             0.029                                                                             0.330                                 18   2     3.73  6.7    22.7    0.663                                                                             0.090                                                                             0.088                                                                             0.266                                 __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE IV                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Catalyst           Number of                                                                            Conversion                                                          Amount                                                                              milli-gram                                                                           rate of                                                                               Products obtained (g)                          Example                                                                             Nature   (g)  atoms of Pd                                                                          butadiene %                                                                           I  II III                                                                               IV                                    __________________________________________________________________________     19   Pd(CH.sub.3COO).sub.2                                                                   0.08 0.35  47.0   0.897                                                                             0.271                                                                             0.090                                                                             0.944                                 20   .sup.1   0.107                                                                               0.4   55     0.392                                                                             0.264                                                                             0.037                                                                             1.48                                  21   .sup.2   0.063                                                                               0.306 27.8   0.486                                                                             0.130                                                                             0.024                                                                             1.10                                  22   (φCOO).sub.2 Pd                                                                     0.121                                                                               0.325 37.2   0.943                                                                             0.221                                                                             0.094                                                                             0.419                                 __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR16##                                                                                                                                                     .sup.2 (CH.sub.3COO Pd C.sub.3 H.sub.5).sub.2 bis(π-allyl palladium         acetate)                                                                 

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                                      Conversion                                                        Nature of    rate of     Products obtained (g)                                 Example                                                                               solvent   butadiene % I    II   III  IV                                 ______________________________________                                         25     Dimethyl- 47          0.897                                                                               0.271                                                                               0.090                                                                               0.944                                     formamide                                                               26     N--methyl-                                                                               27.4        0.522                                                                               0.101                                                                               0.104                                                                               0.408                                     pyrrolidone                                                             27     propyl    5           0.028                                                                               0.045                                                                               0.010                                                                               0.355                                     carbonate                                                               ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE VI                                     __________________________________________________________________________                          Number of                                                                            Conversion                                          Concentration                                                                               Amount of Pd                                                                           milligram-                                                                           rate of Products obtained (g)                       Example                                                                             of Pd (ppm)                                                                            acetate (mg)                                                                           atoms of Pd                                                                          butadiene (%)                                                                          I  II III                                                                               IV                                 __________________________________________________________________________     28    760    26.5    0.118 10.7    0.230                                                                             0.045                                                                             0.018                                                                             0.175                              29   1320    46.5    0.207 23.4    0.456                                                                             0.116                                                                             0.046                                                                             0.39                               30   2250    79.5    0.35  47      0.897                                                                             0.271                                                                             0.090                                                                             0.944                              31   3000    105.6   0.470 58.3    1.034                                                                             0.343                                                                             0.139                                                                             1.164                              32   4000    140.8   0.627 68.3    1.198                                                                             0.414                                                                             0.192                                                                             1.315                              33   4500    158     0.705 74.4    1.159                                                                             0.468                                                                             0.212                                                                             1.414                              34   5070    180     0.800 77.2    1.216                                                                             0.468                                                                             0.253                                                                             1.653                              __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE VII                                                        ______________________________________                                         Temper-      Conversion                                                        ature        rate of     Products obtained (g)                                 Example                                                                               (°C.)                                                                             butadiene (%)                                                                              I    II   III  IV                                 ______________________________________                                         35     10        11          0.139                                                                               0.036                                                                               0.020                                                                               0.315                              36     35        63.2        1.089                                                                               0.354                                                                               0.231                                                                               1.263                              37     50        66.6        0.771                                                                               0.419                                                                               0.323                                                                               1.491                              ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE VIII                                                       ______________________________________                                         Amount of                                                                      butadiene      Conversion                                                                               Products obtained (g)                                 Example (g)        rate (%)  I    II   III  IV                                 ______________________________________                                         38      2.48       36.8      0.592                                                                               0.151                                                                               0.080                                                                               0.450                              39      4.5        31.9      0.514                                                                               0.157                                                                               0.081                                                                               0.638                              40      9.65       12.6      0.500                                                                               0.150                                                                               0.077                                                                               0.520                              ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE IX                                                         ______________________________________                                         Reaction    Conversion                                                         time        rate of     Products obtained (g)                                  Examples                                                                              (hours)  butadiene (%)                                                                              I    II   III  IV                                  ______________________________________                                         41      5       13.2        0.235                                                                               0.090                                                                               0.043                                                                               0.38                                42      7       25.9        0.351                                                                               0.154                                                                               0.055                                                                               0.48                                43     17       39          0.972                                                                               0.220                                                                               0.083                                                                               0.56                                44     41       51          0.665                                                                               0.254                                                                               0.110                                                                                0.823                              45     95       54.7        0.405                                                                               0.364                                                                               0.130                                                                               1.56                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE X                                                          ______________________________________                                         Reaction    Conversion                                                         time        rate of     Products obtained (g)                                  Examples                                                                              (hours)  butadiene (%)                                                                              I     II   III  IV                                 ______________________________________                                         46      7       12.6        0.23  0.075                                                                               0.030                                                                               0.260                              47     16       26.5        0.47  0.140                                                                               0.050                                                                               0.520                              48     24       31.9        0.51  0.157                                                                               0.081                                                                               0.638                              49     40       43           0.833                                                                               0.310                                                                               0.170                                                                               0.960                              50     96       48.7         0.861                                                                               0.340                                                                               0.200                                                                               1.050                              ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XI                                                         ______________________________________                                                             Conver-                                                                        sion                                                       Ex-  Acid added     rate of                                                    am-             weight   butadiene                                                                            Products obtained (g)                           ples type       (mg)     (%)   I    II   III  IV                               ______________________________________                                         52                                                                                   ##STR17##   87.2  27.4   0.679                                                                               0.124                                                                               0.074                                                                               0.31                               53                                                                                 ##STR18## 98      30     0.684                                                                               0.150                                                                               0.103                                                                               0.228                              54                                                                                 ##STR19## 95      25.2   0.636                                                                               0.098                                                                               0.052                                                                               0.333                              55                                                                                 ##STR20## 94      31.1   0.770                                                                               0.159                                                                               0.074                                                                               0.453                            ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XIA                                                        ______________________________________                                                             Conver-                                                                        sion                                                       Ex-  Acid added     rate of                                                    am-             weight   butadiene                                                                            Products obtained (g)                           ples type       (mg)     (%)   I    II   III  IV                               ______________________________________                                         56              130     11     0.266                                                                               0.029                                                                               0.075                                                                               0.069                                  ##STR21##                                                                  57                                                                                 ##STR22## 93      32.3   0.705                                                                               0.200                                                                               0.151                                                                               0.491                              58                                                                                 ##STR23## 82      29.5   0.535                                                                               0.103                                                                               0.081                                                                               0.595                            ______________________________________                                    

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process of preparing an unsaturated fatty alcohol of the formula: ##STR24## in which n=2 or 4, comprising reacting butadiene with water in the presence of a palladium salt and boric acid, B(OH)₃, in a polar aprotic solvent.
 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein there is also present a carboxylic acid.
 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the palladium salt is selected from among the group consisting of palladium carboxylates of the formula: (R₁ COO)₂ Pd, allyl complexes of palladium having a carboxylate radical of the formula: (R₂ PdR₁ COO)₂, and allyl complexes of palladium of the formula R₂ PdOR₁, in which:R₁ represents a radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals having from about 1 to 6 carbon atoms and aryl radicals; R₂ represents a radical of the formula: ##STR25## in which R₃ represents a member selected from hydrogen and the radical R₁.
 4. A process according to claim 3, wherein said R₁ is substituted.
 5. A process according to claim 3, wherein the palladium salt is a member selected from palladium acetate and palladium benzoate.
 6. A process according to claim 3, wherein the palladium salt is selected from the group consisting of salts of the following formulae: ##STR26##
 7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of dimethylformamide, hexamethylphosforotriamide, dimethylacetamide and N-methylpyrrolidone.
 8. A process according to claim 2, wherein the carboxylic acid has the general formula: R₄ COOH, in which R₄ represents a radical selected from among the group consisting of alkyl and aryl radicals.
 9. A process according to claim 8, wherein the group R₄ is selected from among the class consisting of acyclic and cyclic alkyl radicals having from about 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
 10. A process according to claim 9, wherein the group R₄ represents groups having a structure represented from among the following formulae: ##STR27##
 11. A process according to claim 7, wherein the group R₄ represents a radical selected from the formulae consisting of ##STR28## in which R₅ represents at least one radical selected from among the group consisting of hydrogen, OH, and alkyl radicals having from about 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
 12. A process according to claim 11, wherein the group R₅ represents hydrogen.
 13. A process according to claim 1, wherein a temperature of between about -5° C. and +150° C. is employed.
 14. A process according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of butadiene to water is between about 0.1 and 10 to
 1. 15. A process according to claim 14, wherein the molar ratio is about 1 to
 1. 16. A process according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the number of mols of butadiene to the number of gram-atoms of palladium is between about 100 and about 1000 to
 1. 17. A process according to claim 16, wherein the ratio is about 300 to
 1. 18. A process according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of the water to the boric acid is between about 0.1 and about 20 to
 1. 19. A process according to claim 18, wherein the ratio is between about 2 and about 10 to
 1. 20. A process according to claim 2, wherein the ratio of the number of mols of carboxylic acid to the number of gram-atoms of palladium is between about 0.5 and about 20 to
 1. 21. A process according to claim 20, wherein the ratio is between about 2 and about 6 to
 1. 22. A process according to claim 1 wherein a phosphine is introduced into the reaction medium.
 23. A process according to claim 21, wherein the phosphine is present in an amount such that the atomic ratio P³⁺ /Pd is between about 0.1 and about 0.5 to
 1. 